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Wednesday, February 3, 2016

will you...?

Artists write stories about their work all the time, and the greatest joy is when that story becomes important to another person.

This project was about creating a piece of fan-art for a client (DP) based on their love of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter stories. DP approached Jeff de Boer because he needed to commission a very special golden snitch sculpture: the body would become an opening engagement ring-box. DP had a very special proposal in mind, and the snitch was to play a key part. Jeff and I do not usually make snitches. Jeff is a renowned metal artist and teacher, famous for creating armour for cats and mice, and collected world-wide. Jeff also has an ever-increasing body of large-scale public art projects (…with lots of news to come in 2016!). His web-site is a magical place, full of stories made real. I am an emerging metal and clay artist whom Jeff is mentoring - particularly in the skills of chasing and repoussé - and these skills were to be at the core of making the snitch. Lucky me.Jeff and I both love stories—and who could resist being part of someone else's love story? Our challenge was to use our skills to make an heirloom for this young couple: to turn his story of a magical object, invested with his dreams, into a real object for his girl-friend. We knew that this story would be theirs to share with their family and friends, just like the name of the sculpture says, “Always”.

“Always” commission. A “golden snitch” sculpture with an opening ring-box in the body.
Designed and made by Christine Pedersen and Jeff de Boer. 2015.

My thanks to Jeff de Boer for inviting me to make this piece with him.

With thanks to our clients DP and CP - we wish you long life and happiness, always.